MAX1452
Detailed Description
The MAX1452 provides amplification, calibration, and
temperature compensation to enable an overall perfor-
mance approaching the inherent repeatability of the
sensor. The fully analog signal-path introduces no
quantization noise in the output signal while enabling
digitally controlled trimming with the integrated 16-bit
DACs. Offset and span can be calibrated to within
±0.02% of span.
The MAX1452 architecture includes a programmable
sensor excitation, a 16-step programmable-gain ampli-
fier (PGA), a 768-byte (6144 bits) internal EEPROM, four
16-bit DACs, an uncommitted op amp, and an on-chip
temperature sensor.The MAX1452 also provides a
unique temperature compensation strategy for offset
TC and FSOTC that was developed to provide a
remarkable degree of flexibility while minimizing testing
costs.
The customer can select from one to 114 temperature
points to compensate their sensor. This allows the lati-
tude to compensate a sensor with a simple first order
linear correction or match an unusual temperature
curve. Programming up to 114 independent 16-bit EEP-
ROM locations corrects performance in 1.5°C tempera-
ture increments over a range of -40°C to +125°C. For
sensors that exhibit a characteristic temperature perfor-
mance, a select number of calibration points can be
used with a number of preset values that define the
temperature curve. In cases where the sensor is at a
different temperature than the MAX1452, the MAX1452
uses the sensor bridge itself to provide additional tem-
perature correction.
The single pin, serial Digital Input-Output (DIO) commu-
nication architecture and the ability to timeshare its
activity with the sensor’s output signal enables output
sensing and calibration programming on a single line
by parallel connecting OUT and DIO. The MAX1452
provides a Secure-Lock feature that allows the cus-
tomer to prevent modification of sensor coefficients and
the 52-byte user definable EEPROM data after the sen-
sor has been calibrated. The Secure-Lock feature also
provides a hardware override to enable factory rework
and recalibration by assertion of logic high on the
UNLOCK pin.
The MAX1452 allows complete calibration and sensor
verification to be performed at a single test station.
Once calibration coefficients have been stored in the
MAX1452, the customer can choose to retest in order to
verify performance as part of a regular QA audit or to
generate final test data on individual sensors.
The MAX1452’s low current consumption and the inte-
grated uncommitted op amp enables a 4–20mA output
signal format in a sensor that is completely powered
from a 2-wire current loop. Frequency response can be
user-adjusted to values lower than the 3.2kHz band-
width by using the uncommitted op amp and simple
passive components.
The MAX1452 (Figure 1) provides an analog amplifica-
tion path for the sensor signal. It also uses an analog
architecture for first-order temperature correction. A
digitally controlled analog path is then used for nonlin-
ear temperature correction. Calibration and correction
is achieved by varying the offset and gain of a pro-
grammable-gain-amplifier (PGA) and by varying the
Low-Cost Precision Sensor
Signal Conditioner
6 _______________________________________________________________________________________
Pin Description (continued)
Positive Supply Voltage for EEPROM. Connect a 1µF capacitor from
. Connect V
.
.
